Basic Stuff

• Name: Jennifer McBryde
• Country: Australia
• State: Queensland
• City: Brisbane
• Gender: Female
• Education: Four Year Degree
• Primary Illness: ME/CFS
• Diagnosis:
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)
  • Fibromyalgia (FM)
  • Neurally mediated hypotension
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)
• Year Illness Began: 1970

Functioning Interrupted

My Story

My story came to life in an unusual way when I began research into the mystery that lingered in the back-story of ME: an unexpected event that delved deep into the rabbit hole of the polio/atypical polio era (1934-1960). This venture opened my eyes to an unexpected world where certain medical people were selective about "what was accepted" and "what was not" in the cause of this mystery disease at the expense of human suffering. The end result my book :Beyond The Birdcage: Inconvenient Truths About Myalgic Encephalomyelitis" published 2022 Amazon.
How did my health experience over forty years fit into the ME history - it began when a relative who was a breeder of birds presented the family with a baby budgerigar; I was 12 years old. During the next three years family health problems began to surface when my elderly grandparent developed pneumonia of unknown cause with a hospital admission and antibiotic treatment. Initially of some benefit, but after a few months and a further hospital admission my relative passed away: without pathogen identification.
After this time my daily routine centered on school activities when an unexpected change in health developed with flu-like symptoms, episodes of faintness unable to sustain standing for extended periods. After this occurrence there remained a lack of energy and vitality and a serious decline in cognitive ability with the result: a low academic achievement. The medical advice was inconclusive with the comment "she will grow out of it" and little attention was given to my health.
Throughout those years the bird seemed in good health with no sign of disease or loss of vitality and remained part of the family for six years, until its life ended from a cat attack. Interestingly with no birds, my symptoms eased a little and I applied for employment, mindful of my less than optimal health status but to remain positive. Ironically, the next year the breeder delivered two more budgerigars, but this proved to have serious health consequences for myself and other family members. With employment for over a year, this slight health improvement began to diminish with a return of symptoms until a fainting episode occurred on arrival at the workplace.
It was this event that led me to seek medical intervention - flu-like symptoms, muscle pain, fever, temperature and swollen lymph glands with a follicular face and neck rash. Although the advice to rest for a few weeks was appreciated the situation deteriorated with a further medical consultation. It was believed the problem was beyond the scope of the local medical authority so a government pathology test was deemed necessary with the result a bird parasite (Chlamydia psittaci), but required a "yes" reply to the all important question "Do you keep birds" for an accurate diagnosis. Antibiotic treatment for 'psittacosis' was commenced with a two month follow-up pathology to receive the 'all clear' but was it?
The after effects of the disease were debilitating with muscle pain, weight loss, fatigue, low energy, loss of appetite and cognitive dysfunction - courses of antibiotics and limited help from medicine. One symptom remained "the follicular face rash" when it was decided a referral to a skin specialist was the best answer with continued courses of antibiotics; a treatment that had an added health benefit - finally I became a flight attendant with the attitude: "if you never try you will never know" but the choice was fought with a serious health decline requiring hospital admissions from systemic infections, weight loss, fatigue, yellowness of skin. bouts of influenza into the mix. The first wo years work attendance was problematic with various drug treatments plus continued antibiotic treatment for 12 years until I ceased the treatment in 1987. Gradually old symptoms emerged when I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (1989). During those years family, friends had little understanding about my health and personal relationships could not be sustained - basically I withdrew contact to deal with the issues on my own. During the next eight years, I managed to achieve a business degree - although it came at a price. What followed were hospital admissions (psychiatry) for CFS over three months when I began to question and challenge the diagnosis and the treatment with the result a referral to an infectious disease specialist who had CFS hospital patients.
The initial consult was based on two abnormal pathology results deemed a CFS prerequisite to remain in hospital for further investigation - later transferred to a private facility where I remained for 9 months and told "I may not survive" due to 24 hours amino testing that was very abnormal after exercise. - all symptoms but no cause. I was discharged with a battery of abnormal pathology that I have kept as evidence.
When Newcastle University, Newcastle Australia published a CFS study, I choose to be tested - the result by Prof Neil McGregor - I needed to be tested for a range of pathogens. Chlamydia pneumonia 'high positive" and twelve months later " low positive' a puzzling outcome that medicine does not recognize as a problem. REALLY! I attended CFS AUST conferences and Assoc Prof Kerry Bone, University of New England, NSW 2350 herbalist - CEO Medi Herb - along with various blood pathology indicated a severe lack of nutritional elements eg amino acids, minerals, vitamins along with low low blood volume and oxygen - supplements commenced with a change in pathology. This was life changing but there remained open ended unexplained questions about positive results to two species of Chlamydia and a CFS diagnosis in my medical records. My 15 year research effort uncovered historical events (1934-2005) that connected the dots where the pieces fitted together. The recovery process based on the pathogen capabilities in the human body - brain dysfunction and all major organs result in a complete biochemical break-down - that is why it remains in NAID dangerous pathogens along with anthrax.
Tropical diseases specialist ordered pathology testing Australian and German laboratories that supported Chlamydia diagnosis with co infections - treatment Prof. Max Reynolds, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland (Botanicals) six month 'tea tree oil" clinical trial available from university - Australian TGA approved therapeutic exported worldwide, combined with 'serrapeptase' for bioflims plus clinical nutritional supplements based on my blood pathology. Result a better quality of life.